Heat treatable aluminum alloys having magnesium and zinc and methods for producing the same

Abstract

New heat treatable aluminum alloys having magnesium and zinc are disclosed. The new aluminum alloys generally contain 3.0-6.0 wt. % Mg, 2.5-5.0 wt. % Zn, where (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is from 0.60 to 2.40.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aluminum alloy consisting of:
 3.0-6.0 wt. % Mg;   2.5-5.0 wt. % Zn;
 wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is from 0.6 to 2.40; 
   up to 1.0 wt. % Cu;   up to 0.5 wt. % Si;   optionally at least one secondary element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sc, Cr, Mn, Hf, V, Ti, and rare earth elements, and in the following amounts:
 up to 0.20 wt. % Zr; 
 up to 0.30 wt. % Sc; 
 up to 0.50 wt. % Cr; 
 up to 1.0 wt. % Mn; 
 up to 0.25 wt. % each of any of Hf, V, and rare earth elements; 
 up to 0.15 wt. % Ti; 
   up to 0.35 wt. Fe; and   the balance being aluminum and other elements, wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 0.15 wt. % each of these other elements, and wherein the total of these other elements does not exceed 0.35 wt. %.